Wall construction including outer hatshaped splines and inner adjustable clips



Sept 5, l967 D. w. STACKHOUSE 3,339,324

WALL CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING OUTER HAT-SHAPED SPIJNES AND INNER ADJUSTABLE CLIPS INVENTOR: 17m/m W5 TAEKHUUSE.

BY q

spt- 5, 1967 l D. w. sTAcKHoUsE 3,339,324

WALL CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING OUTER HAT-SHAPED SPLINES AND INNER ADJUSTABLE CLIPS Filed Sept. 1964 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i BY 4/ f7 0,-@ 540576 Z0 -5- @M /2 A EAI/1U I/I/ 5 TA UKHUUSE.

Sept 5, 1967 D. w. sTAcKHousE 3,339,324

WALL.CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING OUTER HAT-SHAPED SPLINES AND INNER ADJUSTABLE CLIPS Filed Sept. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l NVENTOK.'

17m/m W5 TA UKHUUSE.

BY Q Q,

ATTBVS.

United States Patent O WALL CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING OUTER HAT- SPLINES AND INNER ADJUSTABLE David W. Stackhouse, Bronson, Mich., assignor to L. A.

Darling Company, Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 394,086 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-241) The present invention relates to building walls; and more particularly to internal partitions for buildings.

An object of the present invention is the provis-ion of a new and improved standardized wall construction which utilizes a minimum number of different structural parts.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved wall structure of the above described type having panels on opposite faces, which panels can be quickly replaced by others of the same or of a different thickness.

p Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved wall structure of the above described type having panel retaining flanges positioned outwardly from uprights of the support structure by a sufcient distance, that panels of several different thicknesses can be positioned between the uprights and the flanges.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved structure of the above described type having uprights with longitudinally extend-ing centering grooves on its laterally opposite sides for accurately locating clips which abut the backsides of the panels and hold them into engagement with the panel retaining flanges.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved structure of the above described type, wherein the structural shapes are so designed that each shape may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal such as sheet steel.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved glazing strip which can be positioned in a channel shaped recess to receive side edges of a pane of glass by sliding the glass edgewise all of the way into one glazing strip and then sliding the opposite edge of the glass into the other glazing strip following which a portion of the glazing strip is turned back upon itself and wedged into engagement with the glass to resiliently hold the glass in place.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts.; and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE l is an isometric view of a partition system forming an office in a building, and which embodies principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a clip shown in FIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of another embodiment of clip that can be used in place of the clip shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is still another embodiment of clip that can be used in place of the clips shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 and is shown attached to an upright indicated by dashed lines;

3,339,324 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately along the line 7-7 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE `8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 8--8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view of FIGURE 8 with portions broken away and taken approximately along the line 9 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary sect-ional view .taken along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE ll is an enlarged sectional view of the glazing strip shown in FIGURES 2 and 7.

FIGURE l of the drawings is an isometric view of an internal partition of a building forming a corner of an o'ice. The construction shown in the drawing uses upright members 10, of a construction later to be described, which are spaced apart to receive the side marginal edge portions of standard width paneling 11. The bottom ends of the upright members 10 are axed to the door 12 of the building by a sill structure 13 (FIG. 3) which includes horizontally extending ledge portions 14, and vertically extending flanges 15 that are spaced laterally at predetermined distances from the upright member 10. While the ledge portions 14 and flanges 15 can be provided by any suitable structure, they are preferably provided by means of a unitary generally hat-shaped sill member having a bottom portion 16 of a width corresponding to the width of the upright members 10, and vertically upwardly extending side portions 17 that abutthe opposite outwardly facing sides 18 of upright members 10. The ledge portions 14 of the preferred embodiment of sill member 13, extend horizontally from the top edge of the side portions 17, vso that the full distance between the flange 15 and upright member 10 can be used to accommodate the bottom edges of the paneling 11. The bottom portion 16 of the preferred embodiment of sill member 13 has two recesses 19 in-its bottom surface for receiving strips of resilient material 20 which may provide a seal and sound barrier with respect to the floor 12. The sill member 13 is fastened to the yfloor by suitable cinch anchors 21, and the bottom end of the upright members 10 are fastened to the sill member 13 by means of self-tapping sheet metal screws 22. The preferred embodiment of sill member 13 is of such a configuration that it can be made by suitably bending a single integral piece of strip sheet metal as, for example, strip steel, so that the structure can be used as a re wall.

The top ends of the upright mem-bers 10 are secured by a header structure 23 which includes flanges 24 which are spaced the same distance from uprights 10 as are the flanges 15, so that anges 15 and 24 are in mutual and substantially parallel `alignment with the members 10. While the flanges 24 can be secured to the upright members 10 in any suitable manner, they may be secured by means of screws 22 in a similar manner as employed in securing the sill member 13 thereto. The flanges 24 are preferably made Ias an integral part of a generally hatshaped header member 23 that is similar t-o the sill member 13 excepting that the flanges 24 have a greater vertical width and extend farther from the horizontal we'bs of which they are a part than do theanges 15 from their webs 14. The header structure 23 can be located at some distance -below a ceiling, but in most instances will be fastened to the ceiling so as to provide a suitable sound barrier etc. As in the case of the sill member 13, the header member 23 will include a base portion 25 and side portions 26, adapted to receive and have axed thereto the opposite outer sides of the upright members 10. As in the sill structure .13, the preferred embodiment of header structure 23 will tbe generally hat-shaped, and will have provided therewith laterally outwardly extending web portions 27 at the lower ends of the sides 26, and having connected thereto the flanges 24 at predetermined distances from the side portions 26, so that the spaces between the flanges 24 and the upright members 10 are open and clear to receive the upper edges of the panels 11. The header structure 23 will preferably also include recesses 28 in the upper face of the base portion 25 for receiving sealing strips 29. The header structure .23 is secured to the ceiling and to the upper end of the upright members 10 in generally the same manner as is the sill member 13, and is so constructed that it can be bent from an integral strip of sheet metal, and preferably sheet steel, so that it can be used in fire-stop walls.

As previously indicated, the upright members 10 which form a basic part of the present invention are spaced t coincide with the adjacent side edges of the abutting panels 11 that are to be supported by the supporting structure. The upright members (FIGS. 2 and 7) have opposite outwardly facing sides 18 that have longitudinally extending centering grooves 31 therein which receive projections 32 of generally hat-shaped splines 33 that are positioned between the adjacent side edges of the panels, and which help to hold the panels 1-1 in place. The splines 33 have a bottom portion 34 which abuts the sides 18, a pair of outwardly extending sides 35 that are positioned between the edges of adjacent panels 11, and a pair of laterally extending flanges 36 on the outer ends of the sides 35. The flanges 36 act as abutments for the outer marginal portions of the adjacent edges of the panels. The projections 32 of the splines 33 have aligned openings yor recesses 37 in the outer surface of the bottom p0rtions 34, and the splines 33 are preferably fastened to the upright members 10 by means of sheet metal screws 38 which are automatically centered by the recesses 37 when threaded through the metal of the upright forming the grooves 31.

The space between the side walls 35 and bottom 34 of the splines 33 is Iaccessible from the outside of the paneling through opening 39 which is preferably of a width smaller than the spacing between the side Walls 35. The splines 33 preferably include lateral projections 40 which extend towards each other to make the opening 39 smaller than the distance between the sides '35 so as to provide means for retaining bracket structures, not s-hown, as well as or in addition to filler strips 41 that are principally used for decorative purposes. The sides 35 of the splines 33 are of such a length as to position the llanges 36 in alignment with the flanges 15 and 24 of the sill and header members 13 and 23 respectively.

As previously indicated it is an object of the invention, that lthe structure will be capable of accepting paneling 11 of a plurality of thicknesses. In the structure of the present invention, the paneling 11 is held in engagement with the llanges 15, 24 and 36 by the clips 42. Various types of clip structures can be used, and the upright members 10 are preferably formed to include at least one longitudinally extending centering groove 43 in each of the laterally facing sides of the upright members. The preferred form of upright member 10, therefore, is a hollow rectangularly shaped tubular member having a pair of outwardly facing sides adapted to receive the splines 33 and a pair of laterally facing sides adapted to receive the yclips 42 all of said sides being provided with similar longitudinally extending grooves 31 and 43. The longitudinally extending grooves 3.1 in the outwardly facing sides receive and center the splines 33, while the grooves 43 in the laterally facing sides of the upright members aid in quickly and accurately positioning the clip members 42.

The preferred form of clip member 42, best seen in FIGURE 4, is a generally T-shaped section having a llat end abutment surface 44 adapted to engage the 'backside of the paneling 11, and a perpendicularly extending leg 45 adapted to abut the sides of the upright member 10 to provide convenient means for securing the clip member 42 to the upright members 10. Although other fastening means can be used, the clips 42 are most conveniently secured to the upright members 10 by means of selftapping screws 46. In order that the screws 46 can be accurately located quickly, and at the same time help lock the clip member 42 to the upright member 10, the clip member 42 includes at least one V-shaped bent portion 47 that -is adapted to be received in a centering groove 43 of the tubular upright member 10. The outer face of the V-shaped bent portion 47 provides a groove 48 which causes the self-tapping screws 46 to assume accurate locations relative to the flat end abutting surface 44 when driven through the clip and upright members.

Where the T-shaped clips 42 are used, to hold the paneling 11 outwardly against the flanges 15, 24 and 36, the laterally facing sides of the upright members 10 preferably include more than one V-shaped groove 43, and as shown in the most preferred construction shown in the drawings, will be provided with three longitudinally extending grooves 43. By positioning the V-shaped bent portion 47 in various ones of the centering grooves 43, the clips 42 canv be positioned to accommodate various thicknesses of paneling 11 positioned in the space between the outer abutment surfaces 44 and the ilanges 15, 24 and 36. The clips 42 preferably include two V-shaped bent portions 47 respective ones of which project outwardly of the opposite sides of the leg 45. The bent portions 47 are spaced apart at a distance different than the spacing of the grooves 43 in the upright member 10 in order that different thicknesses of panels may be engaged by the same clips. To this end, any desired clip 42 can be turned over and the second V-shaped portion 47 caused to project into one of the grooves 43 of the upright member 10 to provide a spacing between the llange 36 and abutment surface 44 of the clip that is intermediately a spacing which can be provided by positioning a single bent portion 47 in the respective grooves 43. Furthermore, the clips 42 may be adjusted to seat in either of the grooves 43 to provide a plurality of positions of the clip to accommodate different panel thicknesses.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show two other types of clips which can be used to hold the paneling 11 in place. The clip shown in FIGURE 5 is a generally L-shaped member 50 having a flat end 51 for abutment against the paneling 11, and a leg 52 perpendicular thereto for abutment against a side of the upright members 10. The leg 52 has three identical openings 53, which are spaced at distances from the tlat end surface 51, which when a suitable fastener extends through the opening and through the center one of the centering grooves 43, provides a spacing between the tlat end surface 51 and the llanges 15, 24 and 36 which equals that of a particular width of paneling 11. For example, the opening 53 closest to the end 51 when secured by a sheet metal screw centered in the center opening 43, will securely hold a one-half inch thick panel between the end surface 51 and the above referred to flanges, the center opening 53 when so positioned will accommodate a three-eighth inch thick panel between the end 51 and above mentioned flanges, and the opening 53' spaced farthest from the end surface 51 will secure a one-quarter inch thick panel between its end surface 51 and the above identified flanges.

The clip 54 shown in FIGURE 6 is made from sheet metal bent into a particular configuration which will best be understood by llrst referring to FIGURE 6. The clip 54 has one end portion 55 that is first bent 90 in one lateral direction from the main body portion 56 of the clip and is then bent back upon itself along an edge 57 and to provide a flange which extends beyond the other side of the main body portion 56. The opposite end of the clip 54 contains a first portion 59 which is bent in the same lateral direction and the same distance as the portion 55, and is then bent back upon itself along an edge 57 to provide a flange 60 which projects beyond the opposite side of the main body portion 56 by a distance corresponding with the flange 58. The end of the flange 60 is provided with a return portion 61 that is bent parallel with the main body portion 56 to provide a stop which will abut an outer face of an upright member 10. The return portion 61 is of such length that the flange 58 will be spaced from the flanges 15, 24 and 36 by a distance of three-eighths of an inch when the end edge of the return portion 61 abuts an upright member 10. The flanges 58 and 60 are spaced apart by a distance such that the outer face of the flange 60 will be spaced one-quarter of an inch from the inside of the flanges 15, 24 and 36 when the inside surface of the flange 58 abuts the upright member 10. A suitable opening 62 is provided through the approximate center of the main body portion 56, and is such a size as to receive a self-tapping screw 63 when centered in the center groove 43 of an upright member 10.

The clip 54 includes a third flange portion 64 formed by bending one of the side edges of the clip that extend between the flanges 55 and 59 by 90 in the same direction normal to the body portion 56 as are the portions 55 and 59. The flange portion 64 is approximately twice as long a-s the portions 55 and 59 and includes a return portion 65 at its outer end that is bent back parallel tothe main body portion 56 of the clip. The return portion 65 is of such dimension that the outer face of the flange 64 abuts the back surface of a onehalf inch thick panel to hold the panel against flanges 15, 24 and 36 when the return portion 65 abuts the adjacent outwardly facing edge of an upright member 10. It will be understood that when supporting a onehalf inch panel, the clip will be rotated 90 in the plane of the body portion 56 from the position thereof shown vin FIGURE 6, and will then be flipped 180 about a horizontal axis therein so that the outer edges 57, and 57 of the portions 55 and 59 abut the lateral side of the upright member when fastened in place.

In order that the partition system will fit snugly and neatly with respect to existing building walls, the partition system utilizes a `special wall starter strip 66 best seen in FIGURE 2. The strip 66 is generally channel shaped, having opposite flanges 67 whose inner faces 68 are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the inner faces of the flanges 15, 24 and 36 on opposite sides of the upright members 10. The starter strip 66 also includes a pair of recesses 69 inthe outer surface of its web portion 70 for the reception of sealing strips 71 which are similar to the sealing strips 20 and 29 of the sill structure 13 and header structure 23 respectively. In between the recesses 69 are three V-shaped projections 72 opposite which are corresponding V-shaped grooves 73 that are similar to the grooves 43 in the upright members 10. The starter strip 66 is fastened to the existing wall by means of cinch anchors 74, only one of which is shown, and the clips 42 are fastened to the outer surface of the web 70 in the same way that they are fastened to the side edges of the upright members 10. One end or edge `of a paneling 11 is, therefore, confined between the inner surface of the flange 67 and the surface 44 of clips 42, and the other end or edge of the paneling 11 will be supported by an upright member 10 as previously described.

A window is installed in the partition system of the present invention by forming a frame, the side portions of which are formed from identical length sections of jamb member 75 (see FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) which are suitably secured to the spaced upright members 10. The window header 76 and sill 77 are formed by identical length sections of an extruded shape 78 best seen in FIGURE 8.

'The extruded section 78 is :a generally channel shaped alignment with the plane of the web 80. A pair of similar projections 83 extend into the recess 81 from the side walls 84 of the recess 81 for reasons which will later be described. The projections 83 are spaced a short pre determined distance away from the bottom Wall 85 of the U-shaped recess 81, and the extruded shape 78 includes a pair of laterally extending anges 86 which are in line with the bottom wall 85 and terminate short of the flanges 79 by a distance of five-eighths of an inch.

The header member 76 and sill member 77 are secured to the upright members 10 at their opposite ends by means of substantially identical angle brackets 87 best seen in FIGURES 8 and 9. A short leg 88 of the angle bracket 87 is slipped into the end of the extruded section 78 in the U-shaped recess 81 between its bottom wall 85 and the projections 83. The long legs 89 of the bralckets 87 including the 90 bends are narrower than the space between the projections 83 so as to clear the projections 83. The legs are secured to the upright members 10 by individual self-tapping screws 90. The bottom legs 88 of the brackets 87 :are drilled and tapped to receive machine screws 91 which are tightened down upon the bottom wall 85 of the extruded shape 78 to jam the machine screw against the bottom wall and at the same time force the short leg 88 of the bracket in firm engagement with the projections 83. The jamb members y'75 (see FIG. 2) have a recess 92 of the same identical shape as in the recess 81 of the extruded shape 78 so that the recesses 81 and 92 form a continuously open recess adapted to receive glazing strips later to be described which hold a pane of glass 93 in place therein. The jamb members 75 shown are also made from an extruded shape which is provided with flanges 94 of a spacing and length adapted to slide behind the flanges 36 of the splines 33 on opposite sides of an upright member 10 and bear against the sides 35 of the respective splines.

In one embodiment, the bottom edge of the glass 93 (see FIG. 10) sets in a solid extruded rubber glazing strip 95 that in 4turn is positioned in the recess 81 of the sill member 77. The glazing strip 95 has a recess 96 positioned between two spaced rabbit ears 97 which abut the side edges of the glass 93 and center the glass within the recess 81. 'Ihe top edge of the glass is received within an extruded generally U-shaped glazing strip 98 (see FIG. 8) having side legs 99 of considerable depth and which project towards each other so as to resiliently confine the top edge of the glass 93 between the bottom edges of the side legs 99. The side legs 99 have recesses 100 in their outer side surfaces which are adapted to receive the projections 82 when the U-shaped -glazing strip 98 is tightly fitted into the recess 81.

The side edges of the glass 93 are retained by an extruded glazing strip 101 (best seen in FIGURE 1l). The glazing strip 101 is of generally U-shaped cross section and has a hollow enlarged portion 102 which proI jects into the central recess 103 of the glazing strip 101 adjacent the outer end of sidewall 104 of the glazing strip. The other sidewall 10S extends outwardly of the enlarged portion 102 and ends in another enlarged portion 106 of slightly smaller cross section than the enlarged portion 102, and which is connected to the remainder of the sidewall 105 by means of a flexible section 107 which allows the hollow enlarged section 106 to be bent inwardly to a position opposite the enlarged portion 102, as shown by the dashed lines in FIGURE 11. The construction of the glazing strips above described is such that one side edge of the glass 93 can be slid all the way into the recess 103 of one side glazing strip 101 to allow the opposite side of the glass 93 to just clear the web section of the jamb member 75 on the opposite side of the window opening. Thereafter the glass 93 is slid sideways for a distance equal to approximately one-half of the depth of the recess 103, so that it will project half way into the re-v cess 103 of the glazing strip 101 on the opposite side of the window. The glazing strip 101 may also be used to support the bottom edge of the glass 93 in the recess 81 of the sill member 77. The glazing strips 95 Iand 101 are generally interchangeable and alternatively the glazing strip 95 can be used in the recesses 81 of the sill member 77 and jamb members 75 to support the bottom and opposite side edges of the glass.

In order that the glass 93 can be slid into the windows in the manner above described, its height must be less than the distance between the webs of the sill 77 and header 76. Prior to the time that the glass 93 is slid into the window opening, the top U-shaped glazing strip 98 is slipped over the top edge of the glass until the top wall of its recess bears against the top edge of the glass 93. After the glass 93 is centered sideways within the opposite side glazing strips 101 as above described, the window pane 93 with the glazing strip 98 in its upper edge is jammed upwardly to force the glazing strip 98 into its seated position shown in FIGURE 8, after which the glass 93 is allowed to slide `downwardly and rest on the bottom glazing strip 95 as seen in FIGURE 10. The install-ation of the glass 93 is completed by squeezing the enlarged portions 106 of the side glazing strips 101 inwardly so that they firmly wedge the side edges of the glass between the enlarged portions 106 and opposing enlarged portions 102, and thereby firmly retain the pane of glass 93 in place.

The paneling 11 is installed by securing the panel clips 42, 50 and 54, or other embodiment as the case 4may be, in proper position upon the upright members 10 for the reception of panels of the thickness to be installed. The upper edge of a panel is slid upwardly behind the flange 24 of the header member 23 as shown by the dashed lines in FIGURE 3, until the bottom edge of the panels just clears the flanges of the sill members 13. Thereafter the panel is forced inwardly against the clips and lallowed to slide downwardly until the bottom edge of the panel rests upon the ledges 14. Each panel 11 is -appropriately centered with respect to the upright members 10 and the splines 33 are installed at the edge of the panels. Installation of the paneling 11 will usually start at -a wall by positoning a panel between the flanges 24 and 15 as above described, and then sliding the panel sideways behind the flange 67 of a wall starter strip. A spline 33 is thereafter secured to an upright at the opposite edge of the panel, and the next succeeding panel installed as previously described. When a position of a window is reached, the header 76 and sill 77 are installed as above described, and the jamb members 75 are installed against the splines in any suitable manner as, for example, by threading self-tapping screws through the bottom wall 85 of the recesses 81 in the jamb members and threading the self-tapping screw into the upright members. Notched out areas 108 can be provided at the bottom and top of the upright members 10 to provide raceways for electrical wiring etc.

It will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated as well as others have been accomplished, and that there has been provided a partition construction which utilizes a minimum number of different parts, and which can be quickly changed to receive surface panels of several different thicknesses.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not desired to be limited to the particular embodiments shown -and described, and it is intended to cover hereby all novel adaptations, modifications and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. In a wall structure: a tubular member having opposite sides facing outwardly of said wall structure, said tubular member being of rectangular cross section and having longitudinally extending grooves in the four sides thereof; a pair of laterally extending panels the adjacent side edges of which are positioned outwardly and on opposite lateral sides of a longitudinally extending groove in an outwardly facing side of said tubular member; panel retaining means having a projection seated in said groove of said outwardly facing side and with laterally extending flanges abutting outer marginal adjacent side portions of said panels; clip means having a projection seated in a groove in a laterally facing side of said tubular member and holding a panel against one of said flanges of said retaining means; and means fastening said clip means to said tubular member.

2. In a wall structure: a tubular member having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides and a pair of laterally facing sideS, said tubular member having longitudinally extending grooves in said outwardly facing sides and said laterally facing sides; a laterally extending panel positioned outwardly of one of said outwardly facing sides; panel retaining means having a projection seated in said groove of said outwardly facing side and secured to said tubular member and having a laterally extending flange positioned a predetermined distance outwardly from an outer face of said tubular member, said flange abutting an outer marginal side portion of said panel; a clip positioned over a laterally facing side of said tubular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is against said laterally extending flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having a hole therethrough which overlies a groove in said laterally facing side of said tubular member against which said clip is positioned against said panel, and means extending through said opening and securing said clip to said tubular member.

3. In a wall structure: a tubular member having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides and a pair of laterally facing sides, said tubular member having longitudinally extending grooves in said laterally facing sides; panel retaining means secured to said tubular member and having a laterally extending flange positioned a predetermined distance outwardly from a first outer face of said tubular member; a clip for positioning over a laterally facing side of said tubular member with a pair of flanges spaced apart a predetermined distance and overlying respective outwardly facing sides of said tubular member said clip having a projection received in a longitudinally extending groove of said side of said tubular member over which said clip is positioned, one of said flanges of said clip including an inwardly extending projection of predetermined length for abutment with one outwardly facing side of said tubular member when the opposite flange of said clip is positioned against a panel of predetermined thickness positioned between the opposite flange of said clip and said flange of said panel retaining means, and said opposite flange being arranged to bear against the opposite outwardly facing side of said tubular member when said one flange of said clip is positioned against a panel of another predetermined thickness positioned between said one flange of said clip and said flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having a hole therethrough which overlies a groove in said laterally facing side of said tubular member against which said clip is positioned, and means extending through said opening and securing said clip to said tubular member.

4. In a wall structure: a tubular member having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides and a pair of laterally facing sides, said tubular member having three longitudinally extending grooves in each laterally facing side; a panel positioned outwardly of one of said outwardly facing sides; panel retaining means secured to said tubular member and having a laterally extending flange positioned a predetermined distance from an outer face of said tubular member, said flange abutting an outer marginal side portion of said panel; a clip positioned over a laterally facing side of said tubular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is against said laterally extending flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having a projection received in a longitudinally extending groove of said side of said tubular member over which said clip is positioned, and means for securing said clip to said tubular member.

5. In a wall structure: a tubular member having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides and a pair of laterally facing sides, said tubular member having three longitudinally extending grooves in one of said laterally facing side; a panel positioned outwardly of one of said outwardly facing sides; panel retaining means secured to said tubular member and having a laterally extending flange positioned a predetermined distance from an outer face of said tubular member, said flange abutting an outer marginal side portion of said panel; a clip for positioning over said one of said laterally facing sides of said tubular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is against said laterally extending flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having a projection on one side face spaced from said flange of said clip by a predetermined distance to provide different predetermined distances between said flange of said clip and said flange of said panel 4retaining means when said projection is received in different ones of said grooves in said laterally facing side of said tubular member, and means for securing said clip to said tubular member.

6. In a wall structure: a tubular member having a pair of opposite outwardly facing sides and a pair of laterally facing sides, said tubular member having three longitudinally extending grooves in one of said laterally facing side; a panel positioned outwardly of one of said outwardly facing sides; panel retaining means secured to said tubular member and having a laterally extending flange positioned a predetermined distance from an outer face of said tubular member, said flange abutting an outer marginal side portion of said panel; a clip for positioning over said one of said laterally facing sides of said tubular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is against said laterally extending flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having Ia projection on each side face spaced from said flange of said clip to provide different predetermined distances between said flange of said clip and said flange of said panel retaining means when respective sides of said clip are positioned against said one of said laterally facing sides of said tubular member with respective projections received in different ones of said grooves, and means for securing said clip to said tubular member.

7. A wall structure comprising: a sill member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a bottom, upwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending ledges projecting laterally outwardly from the top of said sides, and upwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said ledges of said sill member; a header member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a top, downwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending webs projecting Ilaterally outwardly from the bottoms of said sides, and downwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said webs of said header member; said flanges of said sill and header members being aligned; a tubular upright of rectangular cross section the lower end of the outer sides of which are received between said sides of said sill member and the upper end of the outer i sides of which are received between said sides of said header member, said upright having laterally facing sides with vertically extending grooves therein; Ia spline of generally hat-shaped cross section fastened to an outer surface of said upright, said spline having a base abutting the outer surface of the upright, sides projecting outwardly from said base, and oppositely extending lateral flanges at the outer ends of said sides in alignment with said flanges of said sill and header members; a panel the margins of which are positioned against the inner surfaces of aligned flanges of said spline, sill and header members; and clips having sides with projections seated in said grooves lof said upright, said clips pressing said margins of said pane'l away from aid upright into firm engagement with the inner surfaces of said aligned flanges.

8. A wall structure comprising: a sill member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a bottom, upwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending ledges projecting laterally outwardly from the top of said sides, and upwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said ledges of said sill member; a header member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a top, downwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending webs projecting laterally outwardly from the bottoms of said sides, and downwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said webs of said header member; said flanges of said sill and header members being aligned; a tubu'lar upright of rectangular cross section the lower end of the outer sides of which are received between said sides of said sill member and the -upper end of the outer sides of which are received between said sides of said header member, said upright having a laterally facing side with three vertically extending grooves therein; a spline of generally hat-shaped cross section fastened to an outer surface of said upright, said spline having a base abutting the outer surface of the upright, sides projecting outwardly from said base, and oppositely extending lateral flanges at the outer ends of said sides in alignment with said flanges of said sill and header members; a panel the margins of which are positioned against the inner surfaces of aligned flanges of said spline, sill and header members; a clip for positioning over said one of said laterally facing sides of said tu-bular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is -against said laterally extending flange of said panel retaining means, said clip having a projection on one side face spaced from said flange of said clip by a predetermined distance to provide different predetermined distances between said flange of said clip and said flange of said panel retaining means when said projection is received in different ones of said grooves in said later-ally facing side of said tubular member, and means for securing said clip to said tubular member.

9. A wall structure comprising: a sill member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a bottom, upwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending ledges projecting laterally outwardly from the top of said sides, and upwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said ledges of said sill member; a header member of generally hat-shaped cross section having a top, downwardly extending opposite sides, oppositely extending webs projecting laterally outwardly from the bottoms of said sides, and downwardly extending flanges at the opposite outer ends of said webs of said header member; said flanges of said sill and header members being aligned; a tubular upright of rectangular cross section the 'lower end of the outer sides of which are received between said sides of said s1ll member and the upper end of the outer sides of which are received between said sides of said header member,

said upright having a laterally facing side with three vertically extending grooves therein; a spline of generally hatshaped cross section fastened to an outer surface of said upright, said spline having a base abutting the outer surface of the upright, sides projecting outwardly from said base, and oppositely extending lateral flanges at the outer ends of said sides in alignment with said flanges of said sill and header members; a panel the margins of which are positioned against the inner surfaces of aligned flanges of said spline, sill and header members; a clip for positioning over said one of said laterally facing sides of said tubular member with a flange on one outer end surface positioned against an inner face of said panel when an outer face of said panel is against said laterally extending flanges of said spline, sill and header members, said clip having a projection on each side face spaced from said flange of said clip to provide different predetermined distances between said flange of said clip and said anges of said spline, sill and header members when respective sides of said clip are positioned against said one of said llaterally facing sides of said tubular member with respective projections received in different ones of said grooves, and means for securing said clip to said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Romer'antz 52-348 Lyon 52-464 Ingram et al. 52-464 X Kohl 52-241 X Kleinhans 52-400 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. 10 A. C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

7. A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A SILL MEMBER OF GENERALLY HAT-SHAPED CROSS SECTION HAVING A BOTTOM, UPWARDLY EXTENDING OPPOSITE SIDES, OPPOSITELY EXTENDING LEDGES PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF SAID SIDES, AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES AT THE OPPOSITE OUTER ENDS OF SAID LEDGES OF SAID SILL MEMBER; A HEADER MEMBER OF GENERALLY HAT-SHAPED CROSS SECTION HAVING A TOP, DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING OPPOSITE SIDES, OPPOSITELY EXTENDING WEBS PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOMS OF SAID SIDES, AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES AT THE OPPOSITE OUTER ENDS OF SAID WEBS OF SAID HEADER MEMBER; SAID FLANGES OF SAID SILL AND HEADER MEMBERS BEING ALIGNED; A TUBULAR UPRIGHT OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION THE LOWER END OF THE OUTER SIDES WHICH ARE RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID SIDES OF SAID SILL MEMBER AND THE UPPER END OF THE OUTER SIDES OF WHICH ARE RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID SIDES OF SAID HEADER MEMBER, SAID UPRIGHT HAVING LATERALLY FACING SIDES WITH VERTICALLY EXTENDING GROOVES THEREIN; A SPLINE OF GENERALLY HAT-SHAPED CROSS SECTION FASTENED TO AN OUTER SURFACE OF SAID UPRIGHT, SAID SPLINE HAVING A BASE ABUTTING THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE UPRIGHT, SIDES PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, AND OPPOSITELY EXTENDING LATERAL FLANGES AT THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SIDES IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLANGES OF SAID SILL AND HEADER MEMBERS; A PANEL THE MARGINS OF WHICH ARE POSITIONED AGAINST THE INNER SURFACES OF ALIGNED FLANGES OF SAID SPLINE, SILL AND HEADER MEMBERS; AND CLIPS HAVING SIDES WITH PROJECTIONS SEATED IN SAID GROOVES OF SAID UPRIGHT, SAID CLIPS PRESSING SAID MARGINS OF SAID PANEL AWAY FROM AID UPRIGHT INTO FIRM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID ALIGNED FLANGES. 